NUTCRACKER EASTER EGGS AND LANDMARKS

Exploring A Uniquely San Francisco Nutcracker

The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without the magic of the San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker. One of the unique features of our production is how it weaves in elements of San Francisco’s iconic landmarks, giving the story a distinctly local twist. Additionally, there are a number of “Easter Eggs” hidden throughout the production that eagle-eye viewers can pay close attention to. We’ve shared some below, so keep your eye out for these design elements and San Francisco references that appear on stage.

The Painted Ladies

When the curtain rises on Nutcracker, we’re welcomed with a street scene of classic Victorian San Francisco. The famous Painted Ladies of Alamo Square, where the Stahlbaum Family lives, are front and center. These colorful, historic homes in the iconic row at Alamo Square, just up the street from our studios and Opera House, were constructed during the 1890s to the early 1900s, when the Victorian architectural style was at its peak in the city. During the prologue, watch for the detailed interactions between passersby in the 1915 street scene.

Fun Fact: there are 100 Victorian-painted windows on the painted ladies.

Electricity at Home

At the start of the party scene, Clara’s father plugs in the larger-than-life Christmas tree, a truly magical display for children of that era. Electricity in homes was not common until the 1920s-1930s, so this special showcase of electric Christmas lights is a nod to the period and the decadence of the Stahlbaum’s household.

Fun Fact: In 1879, San Francisco was the first city in the U.S. to have a central generating station for electric customers.

Easter Egg: The Christensen Brothers on Display

Get out your binoculars and focus your eyes on the photos displayed above the fireplace. There you’ll find framed archival photos of brothers Willam, Harold, and Lew Christensen, the three men most responsible for guiding the Company and the School for some 45 years! This detail honors our founders and recognizes our Company history in a sneaky but notable way.

Fun Fact: SF Ballet hosted America’s first-ever Nutcracker in 1944 after Willam Christensen had dinner with Alexandra Danilova and George Balanchine who boasted about the Russian productions they danced in as children. They inspired Willam to create his own which became a staple of the holiday season across the country.

Easter Egg: Doll Tutu

Clara’s magical Uncle Drosselmeyer shares two life-size dancing dolls with the children at the Christmas party. Clara is taken by the grace and beauty of the Ballerina Doll and her stunning tutu complete with layers of giant flower petals. Later in her dream during Act II, the Sugar Plum Fairy appears in a strikingly similar tutu. This detail is no coincidence. Tony Award-winning costume designer, Martin Pakledinaz, added many details from the Party Scene that show up later in the performance.

Fun Fact: The doll’s tutu clocks in at 18 pounds! Dancers who have performed this role have shared that the weight and shape of this tutu actually help with the mechanical choreography and help get them into character. Luckily, the Sugar Plum’s tutu is significantly lighter, making it easier for her to perform her challenging choreography in Act II.

The Crystal Palace

Drosselmeyer and the Nutcracker Prince escort Clara to the garden of the Crystal Palace where she’s met by the Sugar Plum Fairy and dancing butterflies, dragonflies, ladybugs, and flowers. The Crystal Palace was, in fact, an element of the Panama-Pacific Exposition of 1915, which Clara would have attended with her family and has a striking resemblance to the San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers. So, it’s quite fitting for the waltz of the flowers to take place under its crystal dome. This is another fun example of something Clara experienced in real life that made its way into her magical dream.

Incorporating San Francisco’s beloved landmarks and intricate design details like these gives us a chance to see the city through the fantastical lens of 1915. The city’s charm, culture, and beauty are on full display so be sure to keep your eyes open for all these fun details when you attend Nutcracker this Season!